PREFACE

—others; and that the one cannot be moved without also causing the others and the whole work to proceed. He finds further that these wheels are made of gilded copper, by which rusting is prevented; that the spring is of steel, which, consisting of any other metal, would not be so suitable for this use; that above the dial a clear glass is placed; where, if some other transparent substance filled this place, it would give him the inconvenience of having to open the watch every time to see the hand. Outside of all this, he perceives in the same a small hole; and directly over it a square spindle; on this watch he also sees a small key hanging, which is composed of two pieces standing at right angles to each other; of which each end has a square cavity; such that the one fits exactly on the spindle that stands under the said hole; and that, when he turns this spindle with this key, the chain is wound up and the spring is tensioned: by which the work, which would otherwise stand still, continues in its run. The other square cavity at the end of the key he finds to fit on another small axle; which, being turned thereby this way or that, causes the hand to go around faster or slower. At the other end of this key is a flat little handle, which, being able to turn therein, gives him the convenience that when he winds it up, he does not need to regrip it every time with his fingers. Furthermore, he notices that if anything in the wheels, pinions, spring, or anything else were missing, or only made differently, the rest would be nearly without use and futile, and the entire watch would not show the time.

Now the question is to make a kind of demonstration from this. First, could anyone imagine that this watch was not—among other purposes it might perhaps serve—also made to that end, that it should show the hours, minutes, and day of the month? And second, would he find the least unease in accepting as the truth that the same was formed and put together by an intelligent Craftsman for this end; who, when he made it, himself knew that and to what end he made it?

Finally, is he also capable of convincing himself that this watch, with all its particulars and the precise arrangement, size, and figure of so many parts to show the hours, obtained its being and make only through a blind chance, which works as easily this way as that, and without any rule or direction?

Or otherwise, could he still think he could pass for intelligent if, having found this watch in a lonely place, he said he firmly believed that no intelligent artist had made it and brought its parts together with judgment; but that an unintelligent though necessary law of nature was found in the Universe, which had arranged everything of which the watch consists, and each of those manifold things, in its fitness for this use of showing hours and brought them together in that proper state: and specifically, that this law of nature was not only unconscious and ignorant of everything it did or brought about; but also that no being who had any wisdom or intellect had either established and brought forth that law in the beginning, or steered the same in the slightest in the putting together of this watch, to make a machine capable of showing the hours from all the various pieces.

I request once more everyone who thinks it of any importance to know if there is a God, that he please ask this of himself in silence and seriousness, and think what someone who is without passions and prejudices would and ought to answer to that.

We have treated this here somewhat more broadly so that when, in the following, one shall hear us speak of unconscious causes, unintelligent laws of necessity, ignorant laws of nature, etc., one may always remember that we mean such as are described above; namely, those that not only have no consciousness in themselves (which no one will easily refuse to admit) but also those that have obtained their beginning and perform all their workings without any steering wisdom from anyone. This was said before to be the principal difference between unfortunate Ongodisten atheists and those who recognize, love, and fear a God; who has not only made everything according to His pleasure, but also rules and maintains it sovereignly according to His will.

Please do not think that this question is only applicable to a watch as something special; since the same can be done with equal emphasis regarding all works of art The author uses "art" in the classical sense of "craft" or "human ingenuity.". And it is unnecessary to show prolifically in other examples of mills, ships, sluices, houses, paintings, and such like, that each of them proves the wisdom and intellect of its Maker.

Also, so as not to be held back in one's assent by that evasion—that this sort of proof does not have the Mathematische mathematical form (as has indeed occurred to me); besides the fact that one could easily follow the outward manner of mathematical demonstrations in this; let a good mathematician (those of the first rank not excluded) fix his thoughts with attention on the make of a watch, on the composition of the Stadthuis van Amsterdam City Hall of Amsterdam, and a thousand other works made by craft: and if he rightly and fundamentally understands the relation of their parts to one another and the service they thereby do for people; and therewith brings to mind that nothing of all that they consist of has any intellect or the slightest science: let him declare himself uprightly here; whether he is not so indubitably, with so much calm and certainty, convinced that all these did not come forth by chance or through unconscious causes.